Cash-and-carry giant Booker is backing its acquisition of rival Makro to come good despite more tough trading.

Booker bought Eccles-based Makro UK in July from German owner Metro in a deal worth nearly £140m.

In a trading update, Booker said Makro has continued to struggle in recent weeks but added that it is confident the business can be turned around.

Makro UK, which has 30 sites and more than a million customers, was bought by Booker in a cash and shares deal valuing it at £139.7m but it is being held as an investment until the deal is cleared by the Office of Fair Trading.

Booker chief executive Charles Wilson said: "We are confident that once we have clearance from the competition authorities, Booker and Makro will be able to improve choice, prices and service for the caterers, retailers and small business in the UK.

"Makro will prove a good addition to the Booker Group.”

Booker, which has 172 branches and supplies nearly half a million businesses including corner shops, pubs and restaurants, said total sales excluding Makro rose by 4.3 per cent in the 12 weeks to September 14.

This was up from 1.7 per cent in the previous quarter, driven by strong growth in tobacco sales and a good performance from its cash-and-carry and delivery arms.

Booker has been revived by former M&S director Mr Wilson, who has returned the business to profit since taking over in 2005.

The company has also benefited from the growing trend of people shopping more locally amid high fuel prices, which has boosted its convenience store customers.

Booker, which also supplies Marks & Spencer, HMV, WHSmith's shops in transport hubs and Odeon cinemas, said its recently acquired businesses - speciality foods operation Ritter Courivaud and drinks wholesaler Classic - performed well in the most recent period.

Shares fell but are still up a third over the past year and have trebled in value over the past three years.

Shore Capital analyst Clive Black said: "Booker has delivered another very robust trading performance set against the backdrop of a poor UK consumer economy."